Swimming and a dip in the water are simply part of life in Munich: at the outdoor pool when the weather's fine or by the Isar and the lakes. Whether you're doing laps, taking a dip with the family, or simply cooling off on the banks with friends – Munich offers plenty of opportunities to take a break by the water. Here's an overview.
- Schyrenbad
- Prinzregentenbad
- Naturbad Maria Einsiedel
- Michaelibad
- Westbad
- Dantebad
- Ungererbad
- Bad Georgenschwaige
- Munich's bathing waters: lakes and the Isar
- Munich outdoor pools: frequently asked questions
An outdoor pool offers... the rejoicing of your body as you dive into bright blue water, swimming lengths with your eyes almost closed against the sun's glare. Heavy legs become light; your overheated body is cooled; then you lie on the grass and gaze into the sky – and that’s ultimately the stuff that counts in life. Days like that might also feature some chips with ketchup, a Weissbier in your bikini, a Capri ice lolly, a sweet candy necklace and always the same bronzed gentlemen playing chess.
Does life get any better than this? Yes it can, if you know about the pools in Munich which have retained all of the nostalgic charm of public baths while also meeting ultra-modern standards. The Schyrenbad opens every year at the beginning of May, the other outdoor pools then follow in mid-May!
Sun, water and plenty of space to relax: the Schyrenbad in Giesing, Munich's oldest outdoor swimming pool, is the place to go for anyone looking to cool off on a warm day in Munich. Sporty swimmers can do their laps in the 50-metre swimming pool, whilst the non-swimmers’ pool offers more space for a leisurely dip. Families will also find plenty to enjoy. A paddling pool with various attractions, a children’s playground and a water slide provide plenty of variety for our younger guests. There is also a spacious sunbathing area with mature trees providing shade, table tennis, chess and a kiosk with a self-service beer garden.
How to get there:
U1, U2, U7, U8 – Kolumbusplatz stop / Exit I
Bus 58 (Kolumbusplatz)
Bus 52, 58 (Humboldtstrasse)
Bus 58, 68 (Claude-Lorrain-Strasse)
Good to know:
Deckchair hire is available on site (for a fee). The lido is just a few minutes' walk from the cycle and walking paths along the Isar and borders directly on the municipal Rosengarten.
Schyrenbad, Claude-Lorrain-Strasse 24
On the sandy beach of the Prinzregentenbad in the Bogenhausen district, summer visitors flock to this spot right in the heart of the city: relaxing on sun loungers, playing beach volleyball and cooling off either at the beach bar or in the 25-metre sports pool. A real highlight is the striking diving tower. For families, there is a children's area with a paddling pool and play facilities. Those who don't fancy a swim can float along in the lazy river, relax their muscles with massage jets and neck showers, or simply make themselves comfortable somewhere on the sunbathing lawn.
How to get there:
U4, bus 54, 58, 68 (Prinzregentenplatz)
Bus 100 (Prinzregentenplatz or Friedensengel/Villa Stuck)
Tram 17 (Friedensengel/Villa Stuck)
Good to know:
In winter, the sandy beach turns into a playground for ice-skating enthusiasts.
Prinzregentenbad, Prinzregentenstrasse 80
An outdoor swimming pool could hardly be more beautifully situated than the Naturbad Maria Einsiedel (ecological outdoor swimming pool). Here, where the city ends, the extensive parks and river meadows along the Isar invite you to cycle, go for a swim and relax in the beer garden. You can even hear the sounds of animals from Tierpark Hellabrunn on the opposite bank of the river drifting over here. The water in the pool is fresh and green and free from chemicals; it's almost like swimming in a lake. The centrepiece is the 50-metre swimmers' pool, which is connected to the non-swimmers' pool via a six-metre-wide channel. A spacious children's paddling area with an adjoining playground, a football pitch, table tennis and floor chess offer plenty of variety away from the water. The extensive sunbathing lawn with its mature trees provides shady spots and a place to relax, and the kiosk with its beer garden ensures no one goes hungry. The Isar Canal also flows through the lido for almost 400 metres, creating an idyllic setting that is only occasionally interrupted by the shrieks of teenagers drifting along in the ice-cold water. Subject to the necessary plant growth in the treatment pond, the natural lido will open for the season on 2 June.
How to get there:
U3, Bus 135 (Thalkirchen – Tierpark)
Bus 134 (Rupert-Mayer-Strasse)
Bus 135 (Bad Maria Einsiedel or Flosslände)
Good to know:
Parking is subject to a charge. There is a separate nudist area, which is available as both a mixed-use area and a women-only nudist area. There is also a deckchair hire service (subject to a charge).
Naturbad Maria Einsiedel, Zentralländstrasse 28
Swimming, sliding, jumping or simply sunbathing: the Michaelibad is one of the most versatile swimming pools in Munich. In summer, this spacious outdoor pool attracts visitors with its 50-metre swimming pool, non-swimmer's pool and adventure pool. For families, there is a children's play and water area as well as a paddling pool. The large 64-metre water slide provides extra fun. The outdoor pool also has plenty to offer diving enthusiasts: a diving complex with 1-, 3-, 5-, 7.5- and 10-metre platforms makes the pool particularly varied. There’s also a beach volleyball court, table tennis, a trampoline, a calisthenics park and a football pitch.
How to get there:
U5, U7, U8* – Michaelibad stop / Exit E
Bus 195, 199 (Michaelibad)
*Saturdays only
Good to know:
There is free parking. If the weather is bad, you can simply head to the indoor pool, which is open all year round.
Michaelibad, Heinrich-Wieland-Strasse 24
If you're looking to cool off and have some fun on a warm summer's day in Munich, the Westbad is the perfect place for you. This outdoor pool offers a varied mix of swimming, slides and relaxation, making it ideal for both families and active swimmers. The centrepiece is the large 50-metre swimming pool, where you can easily swim a few laps. Those who prefer to splash about and play will find plenty of ways to cool off in the non-swimmers' and adventure areas. The 64-metre-long water slide and the 1- and 3-metre diving platforms provide plenty of thrills, whilst younger guests can let off steam in the children's area with its paddling pools. The lovely sunbathing lawn is perfect for sunbathing and relaxing. A football pitch, a beach volleyball court, table tennis and outdoor chess provide further variety. A kiosk with a beer garden provides the necessary refreshments.
Getting there:
Tram 19, Bus 57 (Westbad)
Good to know:
Free parking is available. There is a mixed nudist area and a separate ladies' nudist area.
The Dantebad offers a wide range of facilities. This outdoor swimming pool in the west of Munich combines sport, fun and relaxation, making it a great choice for families as well as active swimmers. Sporty swimmers can do their laps in the 50-metre swimming pool. The adventure pool provides plenty of variety with its bubble loungers, bubble grotto, lazy river and water mushroom. For younger visitors, there is a non-swimmer's pool with a wide water slide, as well as a dedicated children's area with a paddling pool and water play facilities. Various sports facilities, such as table tennis, a football pitch and a double beach volleyball court, are also available. There is also a restaurant and a kiosk with a beer garden.
How to get there:
U1, U7 – Westfriedhof station / Exit C
Bus 151, 164, 165, 180,
Tram 20, 21 (Westfriedhof)
Good to know:
The Dantebad is the only swimming pool in Munich to offer a naturist area with its own pool. In winter, the outdoor pool is transformed into a heated winter outdoor pool, allowing visitors to swim outdoors even during the colder months.
The Ungererbad is a green oasis in the north of Munich and offers everything you need for a relaxing summer's day. The spacious grounds, with their mature trees, almost give you that holiday feeling – right in the heart of the city. For swimmers, there is a dedicated sports pool with diving facilities, whilst two further pools invite you to cool off. In the adventure pool, various water attractions provide plenty of variety, and a 57-metre water slide adds an extra thrill to the fun. Younger visitors are well catered for too: there's a paddling pool, a children's play and water area, and another children's slide. There's plenty to do away from the water too: two beach volleyball courts, a football pitch, table tennis, floor chess and a trampoline area offer plenty of opportunities to get active. Those looking to relax can lie back on the sunbathing lawn. And of course, there's a kiosk with a beer garden.
How to get there:
U6 Nordfriedhof station / Exit D
U6 Dietlindenstraße station / Exit A
Bus 59 (Dietlindenstrasse)
Bus 150 (Nordfriedhof)
Good to know:
There is free parking and separate nudist areas: one mixed area and a separate ladies' nudist area. Deckchair hire (for a fee) is also available.
The Georgenschwaige natural pool in Munich is a popular place for water fun and relaxation. With a spacious 50-metre swimming pool and special children’s paddling areas, a separate wide-water slide and a spiral slide, as well as a sandy lagoon and a sandy beach, it is particularly family-friendly. The extensive sunbathing lawns offer plenty of space for sunbathing and relaxing. A kiosk is on hand to cater for guests’ needs. With its combination of relaxation and leisure activities, the Georgenschwaige outdoor swimming pool is the ideal place to spend a lovely day outdoors.
How to get there:
U2, U3, U8 – Scheidplatz stop / Exit B
U2, U3, U8 – Petuelring stop / Exit A
Tram 12, 28, bus 140, 141, 142, 144 (Scheidplatz)
U3, U8, tram 27, bus 173, 177, 178 (Petuelring)
Bus 142 (Rümannstrasse)
Good to know:
With the exception of the catering area, the outdoor pool is smoke-free. Deckchair hire (for a fee) is also available, and families can hire a ‘Relax-Muschel’ for a day to make their relaxation even more comfortable.
Bad Georgenschwaige, Belgradstrasse 195
You can find out more about these pools and others around the city on the Stadtwerke München (public services company) website.
Bathing, paddling and swimming in the Isar river in the heart of a city like Munich is certain to delight! In addition to bathing and barbecuing on the banks of the river, spending a day at one of Munich's swimming pools, and an excursion to nearby Starnberger See (lake), we have one more insider recommendation to share: meet for an ice lolly to cool off at one of Munich’s many bathing lakes. These include some beaches that are positively reminiscent of Rimini, as well as some hidden pockets of biodiverse habitat. Many of these are easily accessible by bike or on public transport.
The Isar is a veritable dream of a natural waterway. After a jog, the river basins along the Flaucher riverbank area in Thalkirchen beckon you to jump into the cool water. You can even swim naked there. From Marienplatz, it is about half an hour's cycle to this local recreation area in the southern floodplain of the Isar river. You can get there even more quickly if you take U-Bahn Line 3, getting out at Thalkirchen. The nearby Tierpark Hellabrunn (zoo) is also well worth a visit. But there are numerous other spots further north and at the same altitude as the city centre, where you can enjoy some spontaneous bathing in the unspoilt, ice-cold mountain river.
Flaucher, Isarauen, 81379 München
The Langwieder Seenplatte (lake district), with its three quarry ponds of Langwieder See, Lusssee and Birkensee, is in the west of Munich. All three lakes were created during works to build the autobahn to Stuttgart. From mid-May to September, every 20 minutes from the S3 stop in Lochhausen, a Badebus (“bathing bus”) departs which will take you to Langwieder Seenplatte. Right on the shores of Langwieder See is a hotel with a restaurant and beer garden, where you can rent rowing boats or play mini-golf. The land to the south and east of Lusssee is preserved as a natural biodiversity habitat, while sunbathing areas have been created to the north and west. Birkensee and its sunbathing areas are designated as nudist areas.
Langwieder Seenplatte, 81249 München
The three lakes to the north of Olympiapark which are known collectively as the Dreiseenplatte have been there since the end of the 1960s, and are called Lerchenauer See, Fasaneriesee and Feldmochinger See. After serving its purpose as a gravel pit, the area was redesigned by landscape architects to include sunbathing areas, playgrounds, volleyball and table tennis courts and a small skate park, but also several areas that are designated nature reserves. Fasaneriesee lake is located close to the Fasanerie stop on S-Bahn Line 1, travelling towards the airport, and is so shallow in places that even non-swimmers can enjoy a dip in it.
Feldmochinger See is one of the largest lakes in the Munich metropolitan area. Its northern side offers wheelchair-friendly access to the water, while the area to the south-east is preserved for biodiversity and the south-western bank is a designated nudist area.
Feldmochinger See, 80995 München
Riemer See dates back to the 2005 Bundesgartenschau national garden show and is part of the park landscaping designed as part of the event by French landscape architect Gilles Vexlard, for the new Munich city district of Riem. While the northern bank with its lakeside promenade has an urban character, the southern and western banks are very natural in design. The eastern bank features a shingle beach and an adjacent sunbathing area for bathers. As the bank slopes away very gently, Riemer See is ideal for families with children. The lake can be reached easily from the city centre by taking U-Bahn line 2 and exiting at Messestadt Ost.
You can find out everything you need to know about Munich’s swimming pools, lakes and the Isar river, as well as details of how to reach them, opening times and the water quality at muenchen.de.
